Information-processing device, information-processing system, information-processing method, and computer-readable storage medium, for downloading data

ABSTRACT

An exemplary information-processing device includes: a switching unit configured to switch an operating mode of the information-processing device to an active mode or a sleep mode; a receiving unit configured to receive, when the information-processing device is in the active mode, an instruction to download data specified by a user; and a downloading unit configured to start download of the data when the operating mode of the information-processing device is switched from the active mode to the sleep mode.

CROSS REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS

This application is based on and claims a priority under 35 USC 119 fromJapanese patent application No. 2011-250146, which was filed on Nov. 15,2011.

FIELD

The technology herein relates to downloading data.

BACKGROUND AND SUMMARY

Video game devices to which a storage medium such as a memory cardstoring an application program such as game software is attached are inwidespread use. Recently, devices that can download a video gameapplication program from a server via a network, instead of using astorage medium, have become increasingly popular.

By the present disclosure, restriction of usage of aninformation-processing device caused by a download is prevented.

There is provided an information-processing device including: aswitching unit configured to switch an operating mode of theinformation-processing device to an active mode or a sleep mode; areceiving unit configured to receive, when the information-processingdevice is in the active mode, an instruction to download data specifiedby a user; and a downloading unit configured to start download of thedata when the operating mode of the information-processing device isswitched from the active mode to the sleep mode.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

Exemplary embodiments will be described with reference to the followingdrawings, wherein:

FIG. 1 shows an example of a configuration of information-processingsystem 1;

FIGS. 2A and 2B each show an example of an appearance of game device 10;

FIG. 3 shows an example of a hardware configuration of game device 10;

FIG. 4 shows an example of a hardware configuration of distributionserver 60;

FIG. 5 shows an example of a hardware configuration of configurationserver 70;

FIGS. 6A and 6B show an example of configuration information;

FIG. 7 shows an example of a functional configuration for searching;

FIG. 8 shows an example of a functional configuration for downloading;

FIG. 9 shows an example of a flowchart illustrating a process for buyinga content;

FIG. 10 shows an example of a flowchart illustrating a process forsearching for application information;

FIG. 11 shows an example of a category image in game device 10;

FIG. 12 shows an example of application information image in game device10;

FIG. 13 shows an example of application relation image in game device10;

FIG. 14 is an example of a receiving mode selecting image in game device10;

FIG. 15 shows an example of a flowchart illustrating backgrounddownloading;

FIG. 16 shows an example of a flowchart illustrating transfer of data;

FIG. 17 shows an example of a confirmation image in game device 10;

FIG. 18 shows an example of a function configuration relating to theBGDL function according to the second modification;

FIG. 19 shows an example of the BGDL process according to the secondmodification; and

FIG. 20 shows an example of a flowchart illustrating a process forbuying a content according to the tenth embodiment.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF NON-LIMITING EXEMPLARY EMBODIMENTS

1. Configuration

1-1. Information-Processing System 1

FIG. 1 shows an example of a configuration of information-processingsystem 1 according to one exemplary embodiment. Information-processingsystem 1 includes game device 10, distribution server 60, andconfiguration server 70. Plural game devices 10, distribution server 60,and configuration server 70 are interconnected via a network 1000 suchas the Internet. A unique device ID is allocated to each of plural gamedevices 10. Distribution server 60 and configuration server 70 identifyone game device 10 to which the server is connected, by the device IDadded to communicated data. It is to be noted that game device 10 is anexample of an information-processing device. The information-processingdevice may be a personal computer, a PDA (Personal Digital Assistant), amobile phone, a smart-phone, or a tablet device.

First, an outline of operations in information-processing system 1 willbe described. Game device 10 provides information relating toapplications such as game software that can be provided by distributionserver 60, based on configuration information (refer to FIGS. 6A and 6B)received from configuration server 70. The information is categorized. Auser buys, by operating game device 10, an application after referringto the provided information. If the user buys an application, gamedevice 10 downloads an application program corresponding to the boughtapplication. It is to be noted that, in configuration server 70, theconfiguration information is updated by a service provider, for example.

1-2. Hardware Configuration

1-2-1. Game Device 10

FIGS. 2A and 2B each show an example of an appearance of game device 10.A body of game device 10 includes upper body 51 and lower body 52. Auser can open and close the device. FIG. 2A shows game device 10 whenopen. FIG. 2B shows game device 10 when closed.

Upper body 51 includes upper screen 13A, speaker 61, and microphone 162.Lower body 51 includes lower screen 13B having touch sensor 12A on itssurface, buttons 12B, sensor 17, and interface 18. When game device 10is closed, a user cannot operate touch sensor 12A or buttons 12B becausetouch sensor 12A and buttons 12B are located between upper body 51 andlower body 51, as shown in FIG. 2B.

FIG. 3 shows an example of a hardware configuration of game device 10.Game device 10 is an information-processing device including controlunit 11, input module 12, display module 13, communication module 14,storage module 15, sound processor 16, sensor 17, and interface 18.These elements are connected via a bus. Further, game device 10 includesspeaker 61 and microphone 162 connected to sound processor 16.

Control unit 11 includes a CPU (Central Processing Unit), a RAM (RandomAccess Memory), and a ROM (Read Only Memory). The CPU executes a programstored in the ROM, storage module 15, or a storage medium connected tointerface 18, so as to implement the functions described later. The RAMfunctions as a work area for the CPU executing a program.

Input module 12 includes touch sensor 12A and buttons 12B to receive aninput from a user, and outputs the received information to control unit11. Accordingly, a user can input an instruction to game device 10.Hereinafter, an instruction by a user refers to an instruction input viainput module 12.

Display module 13 includes upper screen 13A and lower screen 13B. Eachof upper screen 13A and lower screen 13B is a display device such as aliquid crystal display device, and displays an image under the controlof control unit 11. The image displayed on upper screen 13A and lowerscreen 13B shows various images depending on an executed program; forexample, a menu image or an image for setting configurations.

Communication module 14 communicates data via network 1000 todistribution server 60 or configuration server 70, under the control ofcontrol unit 11.

Storage module 15 includes, for example, a non-volatile memory andstores various programs and data. The stored programs include a programfor buying a content (hereinafter referred to as a “buying program” andan application program downloaded via the network.

Microphone 162 receives a user's voice and outputs to sound processor 16an electronic signal corresponding to the input user's voice. Speaker 61changes the electronic signal output from sound processor 16 into sound,and outputs the sound. Sound processor 16 includes a signal processorsuch as a DSP (Digital Signal Processor). Sound processor 16 converts anelectronic signal input by microphone 162, from analog to digital, andoutputs the converted signal to control unit 11. Sound processor 16processes data output from control unit 11 by an effect process set bycontrol unit 11, a process for converting a digital signal to an analogsignal (D/A converting), a process for amplifying, and so on. Soundprocessor 16 outputs an electronic signal showing the processed data, tospeaker 61.

Sensor 17 is a sensor for detecting whether game device 10 is open (asshown in FIG. 2A), or closed (as shown in FIG. 2B). Sensor 17 outputs asignal showing the detected results, to control unit 11. In thisexample, sensor 17 is a magnet sensor. Sensor 17 is installed at aposition where sensor 17 receives a magnetic field from a magnet used inspeaker 61 at upper body 51 when the body is closed. Sensor 17 detectswhether game device 10 is closed or open by magnitude of the magneticfield.

Interface 18 is an interface to which an external device is connected,and relays data between the external device and game device 10. Theexternal device is, for example, a storage medium that stores anapplication program.

1-2-2. Distribution Server 60

FIG. 4 shows an example of a hardware configuration of distributionserver 60. Distribution server 60 includes control unit 61, input module62, display module 63, communication module 64, and storage module 65.These elements are connected via a bus.

Control unit 61 includes a CPU, a RAM, and a ROM. The CPU executes aprogram stored in the ROM or storage module 65, to implement functionsto be described later. The RAM functions as a work area for the CPUexecuting a program.

Input module 62 includes a keyboard and/or a mouse for receiving aninput by a user, and outputs to control unit 61 information showing thereceived input. Display module 63 includes a display device such as aliquid crystal display, and displays an image under the control ofcontrol unit 61.

Communication module 64 communicates data with game device 10 vianetwork 1000, under the control of control unit 11. Further,communication module 64 receives an application program and relatedinformation from an external device (not shown in the figures) that isused by a service provider. The received application program and therelated information are stored in storage module 65, under the controlof control unit 61.

Storage module 65 includes, for example, a hard disk drive or anon-volatile memory. Storage module 65 stores information relating tocontent. The information relating to content includes, retail versionapplication program a trial version application program, meta data, andapplication information. Storage module 65 stores applications A, B, C,. . . as contents and information corresponding to the contents, foreach of the applications. For example, for application A, applicationprogram Ar (retail version application program), application program At(trial version application program), meta data A, and applicationinformation A, are stored in storage module 65 with their relationships.A trial version application program may not exist

The meta data is attached to the application program and shows, forexample, a title of the content (a name of the application program), adate of release (a date on which download of the content is available),a type of the content (for example, game software, movie, and so on),and a price. It is to be noted that if the type of the applicationprogram is a movie, the application program may be a program for playingthe movie. Alternatively, the content may be movie data that can beplayed using a native function of game device 10.

The application information is information relating to the applicationprogram, for example, an icon image for identifying the applicationprogram, or a description of the application program.

1-2-3. Configuration Server 70

FIG. 5 shows an example of a hardware configuration of configurationserver 70. Configuration server 70 includes control unit 71, inputmodule 72, display module 73, communication module 74, and storagemodule 75. These elements are interconnected via a bus.

Control unit 71 includes a CPU, a RAM, and a ROM. The CPU executes aprogram stored in the ROM or storage module 75, to implement functionsto be described later. The RAM functions as a work area used by the CPUexecuting a program.

Input module 72 includes an input device such as a keyboard or a mouse.Input module 72 receives an input from a user and outputs to controlunit 71 information showing the input. Display module 73 includes adisplay device such as a liquid crystal display, and displays an imageunder the control of control unit 71.

Communication module 74 communicates data with game device 10 vianetwork 1000 under the control of control unit 71.

Storage module 75 includes a storage device such as a hard disk drive ora non-volatile memory, and stores configuration information.

FIGS. 6A and 6B show an example of configuration information. Theconfiguration information is information defining a category (category Ashown in FIG. 6A) to which a search condition is related, and a category(category B shown in FIG. 6B) to which a content is related.

The search condition defined in category A is used for a search with themeta data, and defines a character string included in a title of thecontent a period during which the content is released, and a type of thecontent. In the search, contents whose meta data satisfies the searchcondition are listed as search results. In an example shown in FIG. 6A,a search condition a is defined for category A1. In a case that searchcondition a defines “title: ABC,” contents whose title includes acharacter string “ABC” are listed among the search results.

Contents defined by category B correspond to at least a part of thecontents stored in storage module 65 of distribution server 60. In anexample shown in FIG. 6B, category B1 defines application program A, C,F, . . . .

The search condition and contents related to the category can be updatedaccording to an instruction input from input module 72 or an externaldevice (not shown in the figures) used by a service provider.

1-3. Functional Configuration

1-3-1. Searching

FIG. 7 shows an example of a functional configuration for searching.Game device 10 includes category receiving unit 111, category displaycontrol unit 112, category selecting unit 113, search conditiontransmitting unit 114, search result receiving unit 115, and contentdisplay control unit 116. Distribution server 60 includes searchcondition receiving unit 611, meta data storage unit 612, searching unit613, and search result transmitting unit 614. In this case, distributionserver 60 functions as a searching device. Configuration server 70includes setting unit 711 and category storage unit 712. In this case,configuration server 70 functions as a condition setting device. It isto be noted that searching and condition setting may be implemented by asingle device.

Setting unit 711 receives an instruction from a service provider viainput module 72 or an external device via communication module 74, andupdates the configuration information. Category storage unit 712 storesconfiguration information showing a category defining a search condition(category A), and a category relating to a content (category B).Category B may be omitted.

Category receiving unit 111 receives configuration information includinga category and a search condition defined by the category, stored incategory storage unit 712, and stores the received configurationinformation in the RAM in control unit 11. The stored configurationinformation is updated when category receiving unit 111 receives thelatest configuration information. Category display control unit 112controls display module 13 to display at least one category included inthe configuration information (refer to FIG. 11). Category selectingunit 113 selects one category from among categories displayed on displaymodule 13, in response to an instruction by a user. If category A isselected, search condition transmitting unit 114 determines the searchcondition defined by the selected category based on the configurationinformation stored in the RAM, and transmits the search condition todistribution server 60.

Search condition receiving unit 611 receives the search condition fromgame device 10. Meta data storage unit 612 stores the meta data.Searching unit 613 searches for (or identifies) contents that satisfythe received search condition, with reference to the meta data. Searchresult transmitting unit 614 transmits to game device 10 the searchresults by searching unit 613. In this example, the search resultsinclude application information corresponding to the identifiedcontents. For example, if applications A and B are identified ascontents corresponding to the category, application information A and Bis transmitted.

Search result receiving unit 115 receives the search results fromdistribution server 60. Content display control unit 116 displaysapplication information corresponding to the contents identified bysearching unit 613, based on the search results received by searchresult receiving unit 115 (refer FIG. 12).

1-3-2. Downloading

FIG. 8 shows an example of a functional configuration for downloading.Game device 10 includes application display control unit 121,application selecting unit 122, information display control unit 123,download selecting unit 124, payment processing unit 125, receiving unit126, mode selecting unit 127, switching unit 128, downloading unit 129,application storage module 130, executing unit 131, and executioncontrol unit 132. The download is referred to as “DL” in the figures.

Application display control unit 121 corresponds to content displaycontrol unit 116, and displays plural items of application informationon display module 13. Application selecting unit 122 selects one item ofapplication information from among plural items of applicationinformation displayed on display module 13, based on an instruction by auser. Information display control unit 123 displays on display module 13related information corresponding to the selected item of theapplication information. In this example, the related informationincludes icon images showing a retail version application program and atrial version application program, corresponding to this applicationinformation (refer to FIG. 13). The related information may includedescription of contents corresponding to the application information.Download selecting unit 124 (DL selecting unit) selects a content to bedownloaded based on an instruction by a user, in this case, the retailversion application program or the trial version application program.

Payment processing unit 125 executes a process for paying for theapplication program downloaded into game device 10, with credit cardinformation. Receiving unit 126 receives an instruction to download theprogram, for which the process for payment is completed. It is to benoted that the downloaded content may not be an application program andmay be movie data or music data. In other words, the downloaded dataneed not be a program, as long as the data is identified by aninstruction by a user.

Mode selecting unit 127 selects a mode for downloading the selectedapplication program, according to an instruction by a user (refer toFIG. 14). The mode is selected from a normal mode and a background mode.Switching unit 128 switches operation mode of game device 10 to one ofan active mode and a sleep mode. The active mode is a mode in which gamedevice 10 receives an instruction by a user via input module 12. Thesleep mode is a mode in which game device 10 restricts receiving aninstruction by a user via input module 12, compared with the activemode. In this example, switching unit 128 switches the operation mode ofgame device 10 to the active mode when game device 10 is open, and tothe sleep mode when game device 10 is closed.

It is to be noted that to restrict receiving an instruction by a user isnot necessarily to prevent receipt of any instruction, and may includereceiving a part of instructions by a user. The sleep mode is notrestricted to a mode in which game device 10 is closed. The sleep modemay be a mode in which power usage is reduced, the screen is off, oroperational availability of the CPU is reduced. In such a case, the bodymay be open. Further, in such a case, although input via input module 12is restricted in the sleep mode, an instruction for switching theoperation mode to the normal mode may be input via input module 12.

Switching unit 128 may switch the operation mode from the normal mode tothe sleep mode when no instruction is input via input module 12 for apredetermined duration or no application program is executed for apredetermined duration.

Downloading unit (DL unit) 129 downloads from distribution server 60 togame device 10 an application program for which an instruction todownload is received by receiving unit 126. Here, if mode selecting unit127 selects the normal mode, downloading unit 129 starts the downloadingindependent from the operation mode (the active mode or the sleep mode)of game device 10. On the contrary, if mode selecting unit 127 selectsthe background mode and the operation mode is the active mode,downloading unit 129 restricts the downloading. If the operation mode isswitched from the active mode to the sleep mode, downloading unit 129starts the downloading. If the operation mode is switched from the sleepmode to the active mode after the downloading is started, downloadingunit 129 stops (restricts) the downloading. In this example, to restrictthe downloading is to stop the downloading. Alternatively, to restrictthe downloading may be to decrease the download rate, whereby a load onthe processing capacity of the CPU is decreased.

Application storage module 130 stores an application program that isdownloaded by downloading unit 129. Executing unit 131 executes anapplication program that is designated by a user, from among applicationprograms stored in application storage module 130. If the applicationexecuted by executing unit 131 is the trial version application program,execution control unit 132 displays an image (refer to FIG. 17) toprompt a user to select whether to buy the application program. If aninstruction to buy the retail version application program is input bythe user, execution control unit 132 stop executing the trial versionapplication program, and controls information display control unit 123to display the related information (refer to FIG. 13). In such a case,information display control unit 123 displays the related information ofthe application information corresponding to the executed trial versionapplication program.

2. Operation

The description will be given for an operation of game device 10. It isto be noted that the configuration information in configuration server70 is determined by the service provider prior to the operationdescribed below.

FIG. 9 shows an example of a flowchart illustrating a process for buyinga content. If a user inputs an instruction to start an applicationprogram in game device 10, control unit 11 starts searching (step S110)application information.

FIG. 10 shows an example of a flowchart illustrating a process forsearching the application information. Control unit 11 transmits (instep S111) to configuration server 70 via communication module 14 arequest for transmitting the configuration information. Categoryreceiving unit 111 waits (in step S112: NO) for receiving theconfiguration information stored in category storage unit 712 ofconfiguration server 70. If category receiving unit 111 receives theconfiguration information (in step S112: YES), category display controlunit 112 controls display module 13 to display (in step S113) on displaymodule 13 a category based on the configuration information.Hereinafter, the displayed image including the category is referred toas a “category image”.

FIG. 11 shows an example of the category image in game device 10. Inthis example, category display control unit 112 displays on lower screen13B icons Cg each showing a category included in the configurationinformation, and cursor Cs for selecting one icon from among icons Cg.Further, category display control unit 112 displays on upper screen 13Ainformation relating to the category corresponding to the selected iconCg. The information relating to the category and shown on upper screen13A may be included in the configuration information.

In this example, a category may be “new arrival,” “high ranked,”“special topic A,” or “special topic B.”

Referring to FIG. 10 again, category selecting unit 113 waits (in stepS114: NO) for an instruction by a user to select a category, while animage shown in FIG. 11 is displayed. If the user inputs an instruction(in step S114: YES), category selecting unit 113 selects one categorybased on the instruction. If the selected category is category A, forwhich the search condition is set (in step S115: YES), search conditiontransmitting unit 114 transmits (in step S116) to distribution server 60a search condition set for the selected category. Search resultreceiving unit 115 waits (in step S117: NO) for receiving the searchresults from distribution server 60.

Distribution server 60 transmits to game device 10 the search resultsobtained by using search condition receiving unit 611, meta data storageunit 612, searching unit 613, and search result transmitting unit 614.The search results are obtained with the search condition transmittedfrom game device 10. In this example, the search results include theapplication information corresponding to contents that satisfy thesearch condition.

If search result receiving unit 115 receives the search results fromdistribution server 60 (in step S117: YES), content display control unit116 controls display module 13 to display (in step S210 in FIG. 9) theapplication information included in the search results. Hereinafter, theimage displayed in step S210 is referred to as an “applicationinformation image.”

If category selecting unit 113 selects in step S115 category B, to whicha content corresponds (in step S115: NO), content display control unit116 controls display module 13 to display (in step S210 in FIG. 9) theapplication information based on the content corresponding to theselected category. Here, the application information may be receivedfrom distribution server 60, or may be received from configurationserver 70 along with the configuration information.

FIG. 12 shows an example of the application information image in gamedevice 10. In this example, content display control unit 116 displays onlower screen 13B the contents identified as the search results in a casethat category A is selected, or icons Ac corresponding to the contentscorresponding to the category in a case that category B is selected.Further, content display control unit 116 displays cursor Cs forselecting one content. Still further, content display control unit 116displays on window Aw a description of the content corresponding to theselected icon Ac. Thus, the application information of the contentscorresponding to the category is displayed on lower screen 13B.Information related to the selected category is displayed on upperscreen 13A, similarly to the image displayed by category display controlunit 112 (refer to FIG. 11).

Here, contents available on distribution server 60 are continuallyupdated. In a case that the category has a corresponding content ascategory B, it is necessary for the service provider to update therelationship between a content and a category when the content is newlyadded. Therefore, for a category corresponding to a content rarelyupdated, optimally the category corresponds to a content, as category B.

In a case that the search condition is set for a category as category A,the updated content includes a searched object. Therefore, there is noneed to update the setting every time the content is updated. Therefore,for a category corresponding to a content that has been frequentlyupdated, optimally the category corresponds to a search condition, ascategory A.

In a case that the displayed contents are changed in response to thecategory, the service provider can modify the search condition set forthe category in configuration server 70 without setting the relationshipbetween a content and a category for every content. Thus, the serviceprovider or an administrator of the server can easily change the contentto be displayed in response to the category.

The description is given referring to FIG. 9 again. As described above,content display control unit 116 and application display control unit121 have a common function and differ in whether they belong to thesearching function or the downloading function. In the followingdescription, application display control unit 121 displays theapplication information image.

Application display control unit 121 displays on display module 13 theapplication information as shown in FIG. 12. Application selecting unit122 waits (in step S220: NO) for an instruction by a user to select oneitem of application information (or content) with an applicationinformation image being displayed. Application selecting unit 122selects (in step S220: YES) one item of application information (orcontent) based on an instruction by a user. Information display controlunit 123 controls display module 13 to display (in step S230) relatedinformation corresponding to the selected application information.Hereinafter, the image shown in step S230 is referred to as an“application relation image.”

FIG. 13 shows an example of the application relation image in gamedevice 10. Information display control unit 123 displays on upper screen13A a description for the selected application information (for example,a description shown in window Aw in FIG. 12). Information displaycontrol unit 123 displays on lower screen 13B icons As each showingretail version application program or trial version application programcorresponding to the selected application information. It is to be notedthat icons As may include an icon linking to a detailed description ofthe selected application information as well as icon Asr showing retailversion application program and icon Ast showing trial versionapplication program. Icon Asr is an icon to instruct downloading of theretail version application program. Icon Ast is an icon to instructdownloading of the trial version application program.

Referring to FIG. 9 again, download selecting unit 124 waits (in stepS240: NO) for an instruction by a user to select one of the retailversion application program and the trial version application program,with the image shown in FIG. 13 being displayed. Download selecting unit124 selects (in step S240: YES) one of the retail version applicationprogram and the trial version application program based on aninstruction by the user. If an application program is selected, paymentprocessing unit 125 executes (in step S310) a process for paying a feeto download the application program. The process for paying the fee maybe subtracting the fee from a deposit, or paying the fee by a creditcard.

Receiving unit 126 receives (in step S410) an application program forwhich the fee has been paid. Mode selecting unit 127 displays (in stepS420) on display module 13 an image for prompting a user to select areceiving mode. Hereinafter, the image displayed in step S420 isreferred to as a “receiving mode selecting image.”

FIG. 14 is an example of the receiving mode selecting image in gamedevice 10. In lower screen 13B, a displayed button “YES” corresponds tothe normal mode, and a displayed button “NO” corresponds to thebackground mode. Mode selecting unit 127 selects (in step S430) thereceiving mode from among the normal mode and the background mode.

If the normal mode is selected (in step S430: YES), downloading unit 129downloads (in step S440) an application program that is received byreceiving unit 126. It is to be noted that during the download,switching the operation mode of game device 10 may be inhibited.Alternatively, if the operation mode of game device 10 is switched fromthe active mode to the sleep mode, game device 10 executes a process forstopping the download.

If the download by downloading unit 129 is completed (in step S450:YES), application storage module 130 stores (in step S460) thedownloaded application program.

If the background mode is selected (in step S430: NO) or if the downloadby downloading unit 129 fails (in step S450: NO) because of, forexample, deterioration of a connection between game device 10 andnetwork 1000, downloading unit 129 registers (in step S470) theapplication program received by receiving unit 126 into a backgrounddownload list (hereinafter referred to as a “BGDL list”). It is to benoted that, if the download is not completed, application storage module130 may store a part of the application program. Further, the remainingpart of the application program may be downloaded during the backgrounddownloading process.

If an instruction to download another application program is input afterstep S460 or S470 (in step S510: YES), the process transfers to stepS110 again. If no instruction to download another application programand an instruction to terminate the operation is input (in step S510:NO) and if no application program is registered in the BGDL list (instep S520: NO), control unit 11 terminates the buying program.

If an application program is registered in the BGDL list (in step S520:YES), control unit 11 terminates the buying program and starts (in stepS530) a BGDL program to start the BGDL process.

2-1. Background Downloading

FIG. 15 shows an example of a flowchart illustrating backgrounddownloading. According to the background downloading process,downloading unit 129 waits (in step S531: NO) for switching by switchingunit 128 the operation mode from the active mode to the sleep mode. Ifthe operation mode is switched to the sleep mode (in step S531: YES),downloading unit 129 starts downloading (in step S532) an applicationprogram registered in the BGDL list. If the download is not completed(in step S533: NO) or if the operation mode is not switched to theactive mode (in step S534: NO), downloading unit 129 continues thedownload.

Downloading unit 129 may download application programs in an orderappearing in the BGDL list, or in an order of priority determined by apredetermined algorithm. The algorithm may be, for example, an algorithmin which an application program that is instructed to start downloadingin the normal mode but fails to complete the download has higherpriority. Alternatively, the algorithm may be an algorithm in which thepriority is determined based on data size.

If the download is completed (in step S533: YES), control unit 11terminates the BGDL program. If the download is not completed (in stepS533: NO) and the operation mode is switched to the active mode (in stepS534: YES), downloading unit 129 stops (in step S535) downloading theapplication program and waits (in step S531: NO) for the operation modeto be switched to the sleep mode.

When downloading an application program, load on the CPU tends toincrease. Therefore, in some cases, if a user inputs an instruction togame device 10, a response may be delayed because of the load. Duringthe background downloading described above, an application program isdownloaded during the sleep mode. Therefore, according to the backgrounddownloading, the load on the CPU caused by the download may be decreasedcompared with a case where an application program is downloaded duringthe active mode.

2-2. Transferring

Description will be given for a process for replacing the downloadedtrial version application program with the retail version applicationprogram.

FIG. 16 shows an example of a flowchart illustrating the transferprocess. First, executing unit 131 executes (in step S611) anapplication program stored in storage module 15. Execution control unit132 waits (in step S612: NO) for an instruction by a user to stop theexecution of the application program. If an instruction to stop theexecution of the application program is input (in step S612: YES) and ifthe application program executed by executing unit 131 is the retailversion application program (in step S613: NO), execution control unit132 terminates the application program and the transfer. If theapplication program executed by executing unit 131 is the trial versionapplication program (in step S613: YES), execution control unit 132displays (in step S614) on display module 13 an image for prompting auser to select to download or not to download the retail versionapplication program corresponding to the executed trial versionapplication program. Hereinafter, the image shown in step S614 isreferred to as a “confirmation image.”

It is to be noted that, if the transfer is executed only when the trialversion application program is executed, the process in step S613 may beomitted. Further, an instruction that triggers transferring theoperation from step S612 to S613 may be an instruction other than theinstruction to stop the execution of the application program, as long asit is a predetermined instruction.

FIG. 17 shows an example of the confirmation image in game device 10. Ifa button “NO” is selected by a user (in step S615: NO), executioncontrol unit 132 controls executing unit 131 to terminate the executionof the trial version application program, and thereby terminates thetransfer. If a button “YES” is selected by a user (in step S615: YES),execution control unit 132 starts the buying program and controlsinformation display control unit 123 to display (in step S230) ondisplay module 13 an image showing the related information of theapplication information corresponding to the trial version applicationprogram (refer to FIGS. 9 and 13). When displaying the image shown inFIG. 13 by information display control unit 123 under the control ofexecution control unit 132, cursor Cs may select an icon correspondingto the retail version application program. In such a case, executioncontrol unit 132 may control executing unit 131 to terminate theexecution of the trial version application program. Further, after theexecution of the trial version application program is terminated,execution control unit 132 may display the confirmation image.

Further, if a button “YES” is selected (in step S615: YES), the processmay transfer to step S310, a process for paying a fee for downloadingthe retail version application program.

As described above, a user using a trial version application program caneasily buy a retail version application program, since an image (referto FIG. 13) for prompting a user to buy the retail version applicationprogram is displayed. Further, since the related information of theapplication program is displayed, the user can confirm the relatedinformation.

3. Modifications

The embodiment described above may be modified as shown in thefollowing. At least two modifications may be combined.

3-1. First Modification

At least a part of the downloading function shown in FIG. 8 may beomitted. For example, from among the downloading functions shown in FIG.8, at least one of receiving unit 126, mode selecting unit 127, andswitching unit 128 may be omitted. In such a case, downloading unit 129may download an application program for which a fee has been paid bypayment processing unit 125. In such a case, the receiving mode may bethe normal mode. Alternatively, the receiving mode may be the backgroundmode in a case that switching unit 128 is not omitted. In anotherexample, payment processing unit 125 may be omitted. In such a case,downloading unit 129 may download an application program selected bydownload selecting unit 124.

3-2. Second Modification

The background downloading function may be independent from receivingunit 126, mode selecting unit 127, switching unit 128, and downloadingunit 129. Alternatively, mode selecting unit 127 may be omitted. In sucha case, an entire application program may be downloaded in thebackground mode.

A condition to trigger background downloading is not restricted to anexample where the download is triggered by switching of the operationmode from the active mode to the sleep mode. For example, consider anexample where a user inputs an instruction to download a secondapplication program when a first application program is being executedin game device 10. In such a case, the second application program may bedownloaded after the execution of the first application program isterminated. It is to be noted that the first application program may bethe buying program described above. In the above-described embodiment,when the BGDL program is started (in step S530 in FIG. 9), control unit11 terminates the buying program. However, in the second modification,the buying program is not terminated. Therefore, the BGDL program may becombined with another application program, for example, the buyingprogram.

A description will be given for an example of the BGDL function and BGDLprocess according to the second modification.

FIG. 18 shows an example of a function configuration relating to theBGDL function according to the second modification. In this example,game device 10 includes receiving unit 156, mode selecting unit 157,monitoring unit 158, and downloading unit 159. Receiving unit 156 andmode selecting unit 157 have similar functions to receiving unit 126 andmode selecting unit 127 in the above embodiment. Monitoring unit 158monitors the application program (for example, the buying program) beingexecuted when receiving unit 156 receives the identified data anddetermines whether the execution of the application program isterminated. Downloading unit 159 downloads to game device 10 theidentified data received by receiving unit 156 from distribution server60. If the normal mode is selected by mode selecting unit 157,downloading unit 159 downloads the identified data regardless of theexecution state identified by monitoring unit 158. If the backgroundmode is selected by mode selecting unit 157, downloading unit 159restricts downloading of the identified data. In such a case, if theexecution of the application program is terminated, downloading unit 159starts downloading the identified data.

It is to be noted that, if an application program is started before thedownload of the identified data is completed, the started applicationprogram will be monitored by monitoring unit 158. Further, downloadingunit 159 stops (or restricts) the download.

FIG. 19 shows an example of the BGDL process according to the secondmodification. Monitoring unit 158 monitors (in step S551) the executionstatus of the application program. If the execution of the applicationprogram is terminated (in step S551: YES), downloading unit 129 starts(in step S552) downloading the identified data (for example, anapplication program) registered in the BGDL list. If the download is notcompleted (in step S553: NO) and if another application program is notstarted (in step S554: NO), downloading unit 129 continues to download.

If the download is completed (in step S553: YES), control unit 11terminates the BGDL program. If the download is not completed (in stepS553: NO) and if another application program is started (in step S554:YES), downloading unit 129 stops (in step S555) the download. In such acase, the started application program is monitored by monitoring unit158. Monitoring unit 158 monitors (in step S551) the execution of theapplication program.

According to the second modification, the load of the CPU caused by thedownload is inhibited.

3-3. Third Modification

Plural items of application information may correspond to a single trialversion application program. In such a case, in step S614 in FIG. 16,the confirmation image may be an image for prompting a user to selectone item of the application information. Further, execution control unit132 may control information display control unit 123 to display (in stepS230 in FIG. 8) on display module 13 the related informationcorresponding to the selected item of the application information.

3-4. Fourth Modification

According to the embodiment, mode selecting unit 127 selects a mode forthe download based on an instruction by a user. However, mode selectingunit 127 may select the mode based on an attribute of the identifieddata. In other words, mode selecting unit 127 may select a mode that isindependent from an instruction by a user. Here, the attribute of theidentified data may be an amount of data (or data size) or a type ofdata. For example, in a case that a data size is used as the attribute,mode selecting unit 127 may select the background mode if the data sizeof the identified data is greater than or equal to a threshold. Further,mode selecting unit 127 may select the normal mode if the data size ofthe identified data is less than the threshold. As another example, in acase that a type of data is used as the attribute, mode selecting unit127 may select the background mode if the identified data is a program.Further, mode selecting unit 127 may select the normal mode if the datais other than a program.

3-5. Fifth Modification

According to the embodiment, downloading unit 129 starts the download ifthe operation mode is switched from the active mode to the sleep mode.However, downloading unit 129 may continue to restrict the download evenif the operation mode is switched from the active mode to the sleepmode, in response to a status of game device 10 in the active mode. Forexample, if a specific application program is executed in the activemode and the operation mode is switched to the sleep mode during theexecution of the specific application program, downloading unit 129continues to restrict the download. If a specific application program isnot executed in the active mode and the operation mode is switched tothe sleep mode during the execution of the specific application program,downloading unit 129 starts the download.

3-6. Sixth Modification

Distribution server 60 may store in storage module 65 as cacheinformation the search condition received by search condition receivingunit 611 and the search results transmitted from search resulttransmitting unit 614 along with the relationship thereof. In such acase, if the search condition received by search condition receivingunit 611 is stored, search result transmitting unit 614 transmits searchresults corresponding to the search condition, instead of the searchresults obtained by searching unit 613. If a search condition isidentical with a search condition previously received, there is no needfor searching unit 613 to search again. Therefore, according to thisexample, a response time may be shorter.

It is to be noted that if a content downloadable on distribution server60 is updated, the cached information may be deleted. In such a case,information newly received after the deletion may be stored as thecached information.

Information-processing system 1 may define version information showing aversion of a content downloadable on distribution server 60, and theversion information may be added to the cache information. In such acase, older cache information may be maintained to be stored along withthe version information. Further, in such a case, the configurationinformation stored in configuration server 70 may be stored along withthe version information.

When transmitting a search condition, search condition transmitting unit114 transmits the version information along with the correspondingsearch condition. If an item of cache information with which the versioninformation is stored is included in the cache information correspondingto the search condition, distribution server 60 transmits to game device10 the search results corresponding to the item of the cacheinformation. If no item of cache information with which the versioninformation is stored is included in the cache information correspondingto the search condition, distribution server 60 searches, usingsearching unit 613, and transmits the search results to game device 10.Further, distribution server 60 adds the version information to the itemof cache information corresponding to the search results.

3-7. Seventh Modification

In the embodiment, category receiving unit 111 receives theconfiguration information stored in category storage unit 712. However,category receiving unit 111 receives only information relating to thecategory and may not receive the set search condition. In such a case,transmitting unit 114 may transmit to distribution server 60 a searchcondition set for the category that is received from configurationserver 70.

3-8. Eighth Modification

With regard to the configuration information, a location of a displayedimage relating to each category as shown in FIG. 11 may be set for eachcategory. The location may be absolute or may be a relative positionalrelationship. In such a case, category display control unit 112 controlsdisplay module 13 to display images relating to the categories based onthe positions set for the categories.

With regard to configuration information, a location of a displayedimage relating to the application information as the search results asshown in FIG. 12 may be defined by the configuration information. Insuch a case, the location may be defined as, for example, an order ofarrival, a number of downloads, or points awarded by users. Further, thelocation of the displayed image may be determined based on the meta datastored in distribution server 60. For example, in a case that thelocation of the displayed image is determined in order of arrival, thepublication date in the meta data is referred to. The location isdetermined so that an item of the application information having thelatest publication data comes first. In such a case, content displaycontrol unit 116 displays on display module 13 the applicationinformation image.

It is to be noted that category storage unit 712 adds the storedconfiguration information to a history of the configuration informationin a case that the configuration information and the search conditionare updated by setting unit 711. When receiving from configurationserver 70 a search condition set for the category, search conditiontransmitting unit 114 may receive a search condition that is set for thecategory related to the category information, which category receivingunit 111 receives.

To the history of the configuration information, identificationinformation showing a time when the history is made is added, so as toidentify an item of the configuration information that was used when thecategory information was received by category receiving unit 111. Theitem of the configuration information used when the category informationwas received may be identified by another method. For example, versioninformation may be added to the configuration information and theversion information may be obtained when the category information isreceived. According to the example, if the search condition is set for acategory after the category information is received, a game device canreceive an older version of the search condition.

3-9. Ninth Modification

According to the above embodiment, category selecting unit 113 selects acategory based on an input by a user via input module 12. However,category selecting unit 113 may select a category that is independentfrom an input by a user. In such a case, category selecting unit 113automatically selects a category in accordance with a predeterminedalgorithm. Search result receiving unit 115 may store search resultscorresponding to each category prior to the search. Further, contentdisplay control unit 116 may display the application informationcorresponding to the selected category after the category is selected.

In other words, game device 10 controls distribution server 60 to searchand obtain the search results, prior to an instruction by a user.Therefore, in a case that the user takes a time to select a category, atime to display the application information image can be shorter.

3-10. Tenth Modification

According to the embodiment, mode selecting unit 127 prompts a user toselect a receiving mode when downloading an application program forwhich a payment process has been completed. However, mode selecting unit127 may prompt a user to select a receiving mode before the paymentprocess is completed. Details are as follows.

FIG. 20 shows an example of a flowchart illustrating a process forbuying a content according to the tenth embodiment. Processes in stepsS110 to S240 are identical with those of the above embodiment.Therefore, descriptions of these steps are omitted. In the followingdescription, the same numeric references are used for elements commonwith those of the above embodiment.

After an application program is selected in step S240, receiving unit126 receives (in step S410) the selected application program. Then, modeselecting unit 127 controls display module 13 to display (in step S420)the receiving mode selecting image (refer to FIG. 14). Mode selectingunit 127 selects (in step S435) the normal mode or the background modebased on an instruction by a user. If the normal mode is selected (instep S435: YES), downloading unit 129 registers (in step S480) into anormal download list the application program received by receiving unit126. If the background mode is selected (in step S435: NO), downloadingunit 129 registers (in step S470) into the BGDL list the applicationprogram received by receiving unit 126.

If an instruction to download another application program is input (instep S510: YES), the process transfers to step S110. If an instructionto download another application program is not input and an instructionto terminate the application program is input (in step S510: NO),payment processing unit 125 executes (in step S310) a process for payinga fee to download an application program registered in the normaldownload list and/or the BGDL list.

If the process for paying the fee is completed, downloading unit 129downloads (in step S440) an application program registered in the normaldownload list. If the download of the application program fails tocomplete (in step S450: NO), the application program is registered (instep S475) in the BGDL list. If the download of the application programis completed (in step S450: YES), application storage module 130 stores(in step S460) the application program.

If no application program is registered in the BGDL list (in step S520:NO), control unit 11 terminates the buying program. If an applicationprogram is still registered in the BGDL list (in step S520: YES),control unit 11 terminates the buying program and starts (in step S530)the BGDL program.

As described above, when downloading application programs, a userselects the normal mode or the background mode for each applicationprogram. After the process for paying the fee is completed, theapplication programs are downloaded in corresponding receiving mode.

What is claimed is:
 1. An information-processing device comprising acomputer configured to perform at least: switching an operating mode ofthe information-processing device to an active mode or a sleep mode;receiving, when the information-processing device is in the active mode,an instruction to download data specified by a user; and start downloadof the data responsive to switching the operating mode of theinformation-processing device from the active mode to the sleep mode,selecting a first mode or a second mode, the first mode being a mode inwhich the data is downloaded in the active mode, the second mode being amode in which the data is downloaded in the sleep mode, in a case thatthe second mode is selected, the computer is further configured torestrict the download of the data in the active mode and start thedownload of the data when the operating mode of theinformation-processing device switches from the active mode to the sleepmode, and in a case that the first mode is selected, the computer isfurther configured to start the download of the data in the active mode,wherein the computer is further configured to receive instructions todownload a plurality of items of the data, the computer is furtherconfigured to select the first mode or the second mode, for each of theplurality of items of the data, and the computer is further configuredto start download of an item of the data after it completes receivingthe instruction to download the item of the data.
 2. Theinformation-processing device according to claim 1, wherein the computeris further configured to select the first mode or the second mode, basedon an instruction by a user via an input unit that receives theinstruction by the user.
 3. The information-processing device accordingto claim 1, wherein the computer is further configured to select thefirst mode or the second mode, based on an attribute of the data.
 4. Theinformation-processing device according to claim 1, wherein the computeris further configured to restart the download of the data after theoperating mode is switched to the sleep mode, in a case that thedownload of the data fails to complete in the active mode.
 5. Theinformation-processing device according to claim 1, wherein if thecomputer receives a plurality of instructions to download a plurality ofitems of the data, the computer is further configured to start downloadof the data after the operating mode is switched from the active mode tothe sleep mode.
 6. The information-processing device according to claim1, wherein the computer is further configured to: restrict the downloadof the data if the operating mode switches from the sleep mode to theactive mode; and restart the download of the data if the operating modeswitches from the active mode to the sleep mode.
 7. Theinformation-processing device according to claim 6, wherein the computeris further configured to maintain restricting the download of the datain a case that a specific program is executed in the active mode, evenif the operating mode is switched from the active mode to the sleepmode.
 8. The information-processing device according to claim 1, furthercomprising: a body that is able to open and close, wherein the computeris further configured to receive the instruction when the body isopened, and the computer is further configured to switch the operatingmode to the active mode when the body is opened, and to the sleep modewhen the body is closed.
 9. An information-processing device comprisinga computer configured to perform at least: monitoring an executionstatus of an application program; receiving an instruction to download aplurality of data items specified by a user when the application programis executed; start download of the plurality of data items when theapplication program is stopped, and to restrict the download when theapplication program is executed, wherein the computer is furtherconfigured to perform: selecting a first mode or a second mode, for eachof the plurality of data items, after issuing a prompt to a user toselect the first or the second mode, the first mode being a mode inwhich the plurality of data items are downloaded when the applicationprogram is executed, the second mode being a mode in which the pluralityof data items are downloaded when the application program is stopped,wherein the computer is further configured to: restrict the downloadwhen the application program is executed, and start the download of theplurality of data items when the execution status of the applicationprogram is switched from executing to stopped, if the second mode isselected; and start the download of the plurality of data items when theapplication program is executed, if the first mode is selected.
 10. Theinformation-processing device according to claim 9, wherein the computeris further configured to select the first mode or the second mode basedon an input by a user via the receiving unit.
 11. Theinformation-processing device according to claim 9, wherein the computeris further configured to select the first mode or the second mode basedon an attribute of the data.
 12. The information-processing deviceaccording to claim 9, wherein, the computer is further configured torestart the download of the data after the application program isstopped in a case that the download of the data fails to complete whenthe application program is executed.
 13. An information-processingsystem comprising: an information-processing device, and a server,wherein the server includes a memory configured to store data, and theinformation-processing device includes a computer configured to performat least: switching an operating mode of the information-processingdevice to an active mode or a sleep mode; receiving, when theinformation-processing device is in the active mode, an instruction todownload data specified by a user; and start download of the dataresponsive to switching the operating mode of the information-processingdevice from the active mode to the sleep mode, selecting a first mode ora second mode, the first mode being a mode in which the data isdownloaded in the active mode, the second mode being a mode in which thedata is downloaded in the sleep mode, in a case that the second mode isselected, the computer is further configured to restrict the download ofthe data in the active mode and start the download of the data when theoperating mode of the information-processing device switches from theactive mode to the sleep mode, and in a case that the first mode isselected, the computer is further configured to start the download ofthe data in the active mode, wherein the computer is further configuredto receive instructions to download a plurality of items of the data,the computer is further configured to select the first mode or thesecond mode, for each of the plurality of items of the data, and thecomputer is further configured to start download of an item of the dataafter it completes receiving the instruction to download the item of thedata.
 14. An information-processing system comprising: aninformation-processing device, and a server, wherein the server includesa memory configured to store data, and the information-processing deviceincludes a computer configured to perform at least: monitoring anexecution status of an application program; receiving an instruction todownload a plurality of data items specified by a user when theapplication program is executed; start download of the plurality of dataitems when the application program is stopped, and to restrict thedownload when the application program is executed, wherein the computeris further configured to perform selecting a first mode or a secondmode, for each of the plurality of data items, after issuing a prompt toa user to select the first or the second mode, the first mode being amode in which the plurality of data items are downloaded when theapplication program is executed, the second mode being a mode in whichthe plurality of data items are downloaded when the application programis stopped, wherein the computer is further configured to: restrict thedownload when the application program is executed, and start thedownload of the plurality of data items when the execution status of theapplication program is switched from executing to stopped, if the secondmode is selected; and start the download of the plurality of data itemswhen the application program is executed, if the first mode is selected.15. An information-processing method comprising: receiving, when anoperating mode of an information-processing device is an active mode, aninstruction to download data specified by a user; and starting downloadof the data responsive to switching the operating mode of theinformation-processing device from the active mode to a sleep mode,selecting a first mode or a second mode, the first mode being a mode inwhich the data is downloaded in the active mode, the second mode being amode in which the data is downloaded in the sleep mode, in a case thatthe second mode is selected, restricting the download of the data in theactive mode and starting the download of the data when the operatingmode of the information-processing device switches from the active modeto the sleep mode, and in a case that the first mode is selected,starting the download of the data in the active mode, receivinginstructions to download a plurality of items of the data, selecting thefirst mode or the second mode, for each of the plurality of items of thedata, and starting download of an item of the data after completingreceiving the instruction to download the item of the data.
 16. Aninformation-processing method comprising: monitoring an execution statusof an application program; receiving an instruction to download aplurality of data items specified by a user when the application programis executed; restricting the download when the application program isbeing executed; and starting download of the plurality of data itemswhen the application program is stopped, the method further comprising:selecting a first mode or a second mode, for each of the plurality ofdata items, after issuing a prompt to a user to select the first or thesecond mode, the first mode being a mode in which the plurality of dataitems are downloaded when the application program is executed, thesecond mode being a mode in which the plurality of data items aredownloaded when the application program is stopped; restricting thedownload when the application program is executed, and starting thedownload of the plurality of data items when the execution status of theapplication program is switched from executing to stopped, if the secondmode is selected; and starting the download of the plurality of dataitems when the application program is executed, if the first mode isselected.
 17. A computer-readable non-transitory storage medium storinga program causing a computer device to execute a process, the processcomprising: receiving, when an operating mode of aninformation-processing device is an active mode, an instruction todownload data specified by a user; and starting download of the dataresponsive to switching the operating mode of the information-processingdevice from the active mode to a sleep mode, selecting a first mode or asecond mode, the first mode being a mode in which the data is downloadedin the active mode, the second mode being a mode in which the data isdownloaded in the sleep mode, in a case that the second mode isselected, restricting the download of the data in the active mode andstarting the download of the data when the operating mode of theinformation-processing device switches from the active mode to the sleepmode, and in a case that the first mode is selected, starting thedownload of the data in the active mode, receiving instructions todownload a plurality of items of the data, selecting the first mode orthe second mode, for each of the plurality of items of the data, andstarting download of an item of the data after completing receiving theinstruction to download the item of the data.
 18. A computer-readablenon-transitory storage medium storing a program causing a computerdevice to execute a process, the process comprising: monitoring anexecution status of an application program; receiving an instruction todownload a plurality of data items specified by a user when theapplication program is executed; restricting the download when theapplication program is being executed; and starting download of theplurality of data items when the application program is stopped, themethod further comprising: selecting a first mode or a second mode, foreach of the plurality of data items, after issuing a prompt to a user toselect the first or the second mode, the first mode being a mode inwhich the plurality of data items are downloaded when the applicationprogram is executed, the second mode being a mode in which the pluralityof data items are downloaded when the application program is stopped;restricting the download when the application program is executed, andstarting the download of the plurality of data items when the executionstatus of the application program is switched from executing to stopped,if the second mode is selected; and starting the download of theplurality of data items when the application program is executed, if thefirst mode is selected.